Governor, First Lady Celebrate Georgia Pre-K's Surpassing One Million Children Served

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue, along with leaders from Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning, celebrated the finale of the One-In-A-Million Celebration.  The event celebrated Georgia’s Pre-K Program’s service to its millionth child. Governor and First Lady Perdue also presented a check to Canine Assistants® the recipient of funds collected by Pre-K children and their families through out the year.

“We are happy to be a part of this success and what we will see in years to come,” said First Lady Mary Perdue. “As you think about these young minds we’re training in Georgia Pre-K, it’s those one-by-one positive introductions to education that have an incredible collective effect on Georgia’s future.”

Georgia is the first state in the nation to serve more than one million Pre-K children in a voluntary, universal, lottery-funded program. The Millionth Child Campaign was launched by Mrs. Perdue in July 2009 and emphasizes the importance of a quality learning experience that includes a strong early literacy program. Throughout this year’s celebration more than one million books have been read, more than one million minutes have been read to children, and more than two million pennies have been collected.

Funds raised will go towards adopting two dogs for the Canine Assistants program. Canine Assistants® is a non-profit organization, founded in 1991, which trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs. In addition to physically assisting those with disabilities, Canine Assistants’ service dogs are instrumental in removing many of the barriers faced by the disabled in today's society. Service dog or seizure dog team sponsorships are instrumental in providing the necessary care (general and veterinary) and training that the dogs require.

“Sonny and I are pleased to present this donation to Canine Assistants. Pre-K children and their families from all over the state collected over two million pennies,” said First Lady Perdue. “It is a wonderful achievement!”

   Millionth Child Campaign activities began last year and have continued through 2010. Activities included reading for the Million Book Campaign and the collection of one million pennies. Supporters of the program include the Georgia Lottery Corporation, School Specialty, SunTrust Bank, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Junior League, the Pearson Foundation, Scholastic, and Staples.

   “We are thrilled with the outpouring of support that the Millionth Child Celebration has received,” said Bright from the Start Commissioner Holly A. Robinson.  “This exciting campaign could not have been successful without our generous partners, outstanding providers and teachers, and most importantly, the one million children who have benefitted from Georgia’s Pre-K Program.”

The Georgia Pre-K Program was established in 1993 to provide four-year-old children with high quality preschool experiences. Bright from the Start assumes the responsibilities of the Office of School Readiness, the Georgia Child Care Council, and the Child Care Licensing Division of the Office of Regulatory Services in the Department of Human Resources.   Bright from the Start administers Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses center-based and home-based child care, administers federal nutrition programs, houses the Head Start Collaboration Office, oversees the state’s network of resource and referral agencies, administers Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) quality dollars, and works collaboratively with Smart Start Georgia to blend federal, state, and private dollars to enhance early care and education.

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